Fountain pen



E. E. KRATZ March 8, 1932 FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Feb. 11, 1929 INVENTOR a //7 f. K/W'fZ.

ATTORNEY V Patented-"Mar.8,1932 :f

EDWIN n. KRATZ, or xANsns cr'rv, sswm FOUNTAIN run;

7 Application filed February 11, 1929. Serial No. 338,943;

My invention relates to fountain pens and more particularly to improvements in fountain pen caps.

In fountain pens, especially those not frequently' used, the ink in the feed channel dries, necessitatingpriming or shaking of the pen before using, to start flow'of ink to the pen point. It is therefore the principal object of my invention to soconstruct a foun- 1o tain pen barrel and capthat withdrawal of the cap. from the pen will automatically create a vacuum-within the cap inducing-flow ofink in the pen barrel toward the point of the pen. 7 In accomplishingthis object'of tion I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

pen equipped with a cap embodyingmy invention, the cap being in central longitudinal section. 7 Q I Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the feeder and ink-duct of the pen in section.

Fig; ,3 illustrates the pen and cap inseparated relation with the ink-duct filled or primed for writing.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the cap on the line 4 4, Fig- 3. I

Referring more in detail to the drawings: 1 designates a common type of fountain pen comprising a cylindrical barrel 2 having an externally threaded openend 3 for re- 5 ceiving a nipple 4 therein. ,Attached to a reduced neck-5 on the inner end ofthe nipple 4 is an ink sack 6 secured to the neck by a band 7. The nipple 4 is further provided with a restricted bore 8 in the neck portion terminat- 4 ving in an enlarged bore9 in the outer end of the nipple for receiving a feeder 10 and a pen point 11. Extendinglongitudially in I the feeder adjacent the pen point is a-inkduct or fissure l2 for'delivering ink from the 5 reservoir or bore 9 tothe nibs of the pen. The

' portion ofthe nippleprojecting eXteriorly fromrthe barrel converges towards its outer end, terminating in an enlarged. cylindrical end portion 13, which inaccordance with my invention serves as a piston.

my inven-.

Fig.1 is a view in elevation of a fountain,

The parts heretofore described are of ordinary construction and donot constitute a part of my invention, except when employed in" combination with the further elements pres ently described and that the end portion 13 of the nipple 4 is preferably of slightly greater diameter than is ordinarily employedi.

14'designates a cap formed of hard rubber or other suitable material having a closed end 15, and a cylindricalbore 16 internally threadednear its outer end as at 17 v forengagement with the externally threadediend of the bar- ISeat-ing withthe bore ld-ofthe cap 1'14 a sleeveor liner 18 also composed ofhardjg rubber or other suitable materiah-the; inner:

e'nd:of which abuts against the closed end of i the cap and. the outer end of whichtermi-i nates; adjacent, the threads 17 inthe bore 16 and has, acounterbored portion 19terminat-' mg in an outwardlytapered rim 20. The rim forms a ino-nth and is located to receivethe piston; "13 before the threaded end of; the barrel engages the threads17. J

The counterboredportion19 constitutes a cylinder of adi'ameter to. snuglyreceive the piston 13 on the nipple 10 ofithepen body,"

the increased diameter vof the cylinder 'relative tothe bore of thesleeve; forming a stop- 8o flange 21, for abutting the piston 13 when the cap is'in position on the pen., The portion 19is longer than the threaded portion 17 to permit the piston to move a substantial distancelongitudinally in frictional engagement therewith. 1"

Assuming the cap'to beithreaded on the barrel of the pen, the piston end 13 in sealing engagement with the cylinder 1? or a counter bored portion 19 and the ink as having re ceded from the ink-duct 12,: when the pen is tobe used, the cap "is unthreaded from the penbarreland removed from the barrel. J

When the cap is'moved' over the 'pi ston v portion 13;tO,1 IllQY the piston from the cylinder 19, avacuum is created in the c ap due f to longitudinal movement ofthe portion .13, l

in sealing relation with the cylindricalwalliof the cylinder 1 9, inducing a fiow ofink into the ink-duct or fissure and to thepen point,

two

which renders the pen immediately ready for use.

Replacing the cap on the barrel in turn compresses the air in the cap, forcing the 5 ink back into the reservoir. Alternate removal and replacementof the cap on the barrel creates a breathing action between the interior of the cap and the fountain pen, thereby maintaining a clean ink-duct and 10 insuring free flow ofink to the; pen point- What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. A fountain pen including a cylindrical cap, a liner in the cap including a counterbored portion having a cylindrical inner wall of substantial length and a tapered outer rim, and a pen barrel having a cylindrical nipple freely receivable in the capand tapered rim ofthe liner and of sufiiciently great external 2 diameter to frictionally enga e the cylindrical inner wall of the counterbored portion of the liner.

2. Ina fountain pen, a barrel having a threaded open end portion, a nipple in the 25 open end of the barrel having acylindrical outerend forming a piston spaced from the open .end of the barrel, a cylindrical cap having an internally threaded portion adjacent the open end of said cap to engage said #0 threaded portion of the barrel, and acylindricalportion of reduced'diameter to slidinglyfrictionally receive said piston, said last named cap portion having approximately the same length as said threaded portion to permit the piston to move a substantial distancc longitudinally therealong, and a stop shoulder in the cap spaced from said threaded portion a distance equal to the spacing of the outer end of said piston from the thread- 40 edfend of the barrel. I 3. In a fountain pen'including a barrel having an externally threaded open end portion and anipple in the barrel having a cylindrical end forming a piston and having an .5 outerend spaced outwardly from the threadt ed end of the barrel, a tubular cap having an intemally threaded portion of substantially the same extentas'the threaded portion of the barrel toengage the. same, and a tubular liner in the cap having a tapering outer end located adjacent said threaded portion of the cap toreceivethe piston andprovided with acylindrical innersurface having an outer. end edge spaced from the threaded portion of the cap a distance less than the spacing of the end of the piston from the barrel, said cylindrical surface having sufliciently small diameter to engage the pistonsealin'gly, and having sufficient length to enable the piston, 69 to slide thereover to permit threaded engageinent between the threaded portions of the barrel and cap.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. a 05 EDWIN E; KBATZ.- 

